The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met
polymorphism modulates executive functions and working memory and recent
neuroimaging studies implicate an association with emotional processing.
We examined the relationship between the COMT Val158Met
polymorphism and facial emotion recognition and differentiation in 100
healthy individuals. Compared to Met homozygosity, Val homozygosity was
associated with better and faster recognition of negative facial
expressions such as anger and sad. Our study provides evidence for a
possible influence of the COMT polymorphism on emotion recognition
abilities in healthy subjects. Additional research is needed to further
define the neurocognitive phenotypes associated with COMT polymorphisms.
(JINS, 2007, 13, 881–887.)